UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 10, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• President Thaci sends letter to Kurti on government formation (media)
• Vetevendosje calls for patience until new government is formed (media)
• U.S. professor: Kosovo at threat from Erdogan’s sinister agenda (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Gracanica a walk and a prayer in support of Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbs in Montenegro (KIM radio, KoSSev, RTV Mir, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• Serbian school in Oblic damaged (RTK2, KoSSev)
• A woman reported the rape in Kosovo Polje, the suspect questioned and released; A woman in Gnjilan reported physical assault, custody order for the suspect (KoSSev)
• Novosti: Major changes in Serbian diplomacy (Vecernje Novosti, B92)
• Michel: EU needs to send a clear message to Western Balkan countries (Hina, N1)
• Research: Almost 75 percent of Albanians in Albania, and 64 percent in Kosovo want unification (Tanjug, B92)
• Abbot Sava Janjic: Stop toxic rhetoric, Serb and Albanian mothers feel equal pain (KoSSev, Sputnik)

International:

• Repatriated Kosovo Woman Found Guilty of Joining ISIS (Balkan Insight)
• New Probe Into Kosovo Activist’s Death Hears Conflicting Testimonies (Balkan Insight)

• Assembly President post, key to eventual LVV – LDK agreement (Koha/Zeri)
• LDK claims it offered LVV offer for co-government (RTK)
• LVV official: There are new options on the table (RTK)
• Another meeting between Kurti and Mustafa expected today (RTK)
• Thaci without a decision, expects results from LVV-LDK meetings (RTK)
• Assembly President Konjufca condemns attack on Simic’s vehicle (RTK)
• AAK in full support of U.S. actions towards Iran (Klan Kosova)
• One-month detention for Ikballe Huduti (media)
• Al Maliki: Palestinians support Serbia’s position on Kosovo (RTK)

Albanian Language Media:

Haziri wants reach of LDK-LVV agreement today (lajmi.net)
Albania’s President and PM react to Iran Supreme Leader’s remarks (media)
Apostolova concerned about Simic’s vehicle: Police to investigate the case (media)
Haxhiu: News on disappearance of Astrit Dehari’s roommate shocked us (Express)
Kandic: If Serbia possesses evidence against Mehmetaj, they should submit them to Kosovo (RTK)
Haradinaj: Kosovo has fulfilled criteria for visa liberalization (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Five countries with undefined status regarding Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti, Kontakt plus radio)
A Serbian List official's vehicle set on fire in Leposavic (KoSSev, N1)
Serbian List: Burning of Simic’s car is an attack against all free Serbs in Kosovo (TV Most)

International:

Abducted Serb Radio Team Disappear in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

• LVV – LDK meeting, “approximation” but no agreement yet (media)
• Visa liberalisation maybe in second half of year during German presidency (Koha)
• “The big fish” untouched by justice (Zeri)
• Kosovo charges two Serbian policemen with war crimes (Balkan Insight)
• Vehicle of Serbian List deputy leader set on fire in Leposavic (Kosovapress)

Albanian Language Media:

• “We’ll send formal note with PM’s name to Thaci in coming days” (media)
• Kurti assembles party leadership before meeting LDK leader (media)
• Haziri: LDK has not changed requests for coalition (Insajderi)
• Thaci condemns Iranian attacks against the U.S. (media)
• Kurti: The agreement is very close (Gazeta Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic to continue campaign to revoke recognition of Kosovo (Tanjug, N1, Blic, RTS)
• EU carefully monitoring arrest of Kosovo Albanian in Serbia (KoSSev, N1)
• Kosovo official publishes alleged proof of war crimes (KoSSev, N1)
• Anti-Serb graffiti in Kosovo Serb village (Kosovo online, N1, KIM radio, Blic)
• Serbian government official Djuric in Kosovo for Christmas (Srna, N1)
• Telekom Serbia takes over Kosovo cable operator, removes independent TV (N1, KoSSev)

International:

• Bargain Buy: The Kosovo Traders Defying a Town’s Ethnic Divide (Balkan Insight)
• Montenegro Holds Journalist for Stirring ‘Panic’ Over Kosovo Intervention (Balkan Insight)
• EU and the Western Balkans in 2020: The Year of Decisions (EWB)
• The power of perspective: Why EU membership still matters in the Western Balkans (ecfr.eu)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNDP: An Epic Trail Comes to Life in The Balkans

• LDK has yet to unfold new conditions for coalition with LVV (Koha)
• Kurti and Mustafa to meet again today (RTK)
• Abrashi: President, Assembly Speaker and five ministries belong to LDK (RTK)
• Muhaxherri: Assembly Speaker post to be returned, or a new solution (RTK)
• Selmanaj: LVV did not win the right for Prime Minister (Express)
• Final hours of the President’s anti-constitutional ultimatum (Zeri)
• Police arrest woman after her remarks about killed Iranian commander (media)

• Thaci and Kurti set to meet today (media)
• Kosovo denies claims of ROSU’s intervention in Montenegrin territory (media)
• Djuric expected to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Protest in Gjakova against visit of Serb pilgrims (RTK/Koha)
• Pacolli, Konjufca react to Serbia’s arrest of Kosovo man (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 3, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK presidency to meet on Monday, not today (Telegrafi)
• Historians write to Konjufca: Declare null and void laws from 1989-1999 (media)
• Court acquits from charges all defendants in “Pronto” affair case (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: We are for continuation of dialogue, we do not accept unilateral acts (Kosovo-online, RTS)
• Vucic: Serbia will cooperate with EU as well as with Russia and China (N1, Happy TV)
• Albania takes over OSCE Presidency (FoNet, N1)
• Two Serb houses burned down in Orahovac, residents feeling distressed (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Together in 2020 – The Year of Challenges (KoSSev)

International:

• The Irish Times view on Croatia’s EU presidency: A chance for growth (The Irish Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Cities Rock into 2020 (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti: New elections, worst-case scenario (media)
• Next week, crucial for formation of new government (Koha)
• LDK to gather its leadership and parliamentary group on Monday (RTK)
• LVV hopeful agreement with LDK is possible (Zeri)
• Dacic: Serbia proposed Mini-Schengen project, Kosovo the tariff (RTK)

• Kurti rejects Thaci’s invitation for the third time (media)
• Haziri: LVV to have strong reason to bring us back at the table (RTK)
• UK: LVV, LDK to overcome differences, form new government (media)
• Apostolova calls for swift formation of new institutions (Zeri/Klan)
• Haradinaj: Kurti should form the government or move away (RTK)
• Rama about Kurti and Mustafa: Seats more important than Kosovo (media)
• LVV changes statute, its leader can keep (T7/Zeri)
• Former Kosovo Serb minister accused for abusing official post (Telegrafi)